New 2005 Food Pyramid Information

After months of revision, a new symbol for healthy habits was introduced in April 2005. New posters, pictures and handouts are now available. The system that was devised has much additional information to interpret. No need to toss any old collateral though. You may still use the current pyramid for teaching, since the principals are basically the same, with variations made for activity and age. See the bottom of this page for the differences and the copy of the new pyramid brochure (altough it's really not a pyramid process any more).

On Jan 12, 2005 the U.S Government released revised Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005. A link to a full copy of those guidelines is above. An outline is at the bottom of this page. The concept is the same as we have presented here before with the addition of more guidelines on how much to eat, how to avoid fatty foods and other harmful food products, and how to mix up your diet to make it well rounded. The goal is to stop the alarming increase in obesity among our youth. Too many of our children are overweight due to lack of exercise and poor eating habits and they are headed towards major health problems. As educators and parents it is our responsibility to make sure our next generation stays healthy.

The Food Guide Pyramid replaced the
old "Four Basic Food Groups" color wheel that we grew up with as kids.

The old wheel emphasized "variety," but didn't reflect what
we know today about the importance of restricting fat, and
increasing vitamins and fiber. So nutritionists felt it was time
to put together an updated version that focuses on present health
as well as disease prevention. A revised pyramid to reflect the new guidelines released Jan 12, 2005 was made public April 12, 2005. The revision was the pyramid's first since it was created 12 years ago.

THE 2005 FOOD GUIDE PYRAMID

The following two images compose the new pyramid brochure, which you can download here in pdf form. We are leaving the previous pyramid up so you may compare and better see the differences.

³The lower number is 20% of daily calories from fat;
the higher number is 30%. If you are really concerned about
disease prevention, try to get down to 20% fat.

Sources: U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services

NEW! For 2005.Guidelines on how to mix up your choices within each food group.Print out this FREE PDF document in color for handouts. Click here for a copy (you need the Abobe PDF reader).

Attention Parents and Teachers! - Good Enough to Eat : A Kid's Guide to Food and Nutrition by Lizzy Rockwell (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8 - BUY IT NOW

Height/Weight Guidelines

WOMEN

MEN

low

midpoint

high

low

midpoint

high

4'10"

100

115

131

5'1"

123

134

145

4'11"

101

117

134

5'2"

125

137

148

5'0"

103

120

137

5'3"

127

139

151

5'1"

105

122

140

5'4"

129

142

155

5'2"

108

125

144

5'5"

131

145

159

5'3"

111

128

148

5'6"

133

148

163

5'4"

114

133

152

5"7"

135

151

167

5'5"

117

136

156

5'8"

137

154

171

5'6"

120

140

160

5'9"

139

157

175

5'7"

123

143

164

5'10"

141

160

179

5'8"

126

146

167

5'11"

144

164

183

5'9"

129

150

170

6'0"

147

167

187

5'10"

132

153

173

6'1"

150

171

192

5'11"

135

156

176

6'2"

153

175

197

6'0"

138

159

179

6'3"

157

179

202

English measurements: Height is in feet and inches and weight is in pounds.

Poster StoreTEACHERS: These posters were selected for use in the classroom. Surround your students with high quality images they will remember for a lifetime. Great for Science Fair Projects and Reports, too!

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A Look at the New Dietary Guidelines

Among the recommendations included in the government's Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005, which were released Wednesday:

Eating right is vital to promoting health and reducing the risk for death or disability due to chronic diseases such as heart disease, certain cancers, diabetes, stroke, and osteoporosis. In fact, it has been estimated that dietary changes could reduce cancer deaths in the United States by as much as 35 percent.

Nevertheless, a large gap remains between recommended dietary patterns and what Americans actually eat. Very few Americans meet the majority of recommendations of the Food Guide Pyramid or the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Only 3 percent of all individuals meet four of the five recommendations for the intake of grains, fruits, vegetables, milk products, and meat and bean food groups. Only one-fourth of U.S. adults eat the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Unfortunately, poor eating habits are usually established during childhood. And more than 60 percent of young people eat too much fat, and less than 20 percent eat the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables.

The Food Guide Pyramid is an outline of what to eat each day, and it calls for a variety of food and nutrients. Fruits and vegetables provide essential vitamins and minerals, fiber, and other substances that are associated with good health. Low fat diets rich in fiber-containing grain products, fruits, and vegetables may reduce the risk of heart disease and some types of cancer. Milk products provide protein, vitamins and minerals and are the best source of calcium. However, fats, oils, and sweets provide calories and little else, and should be used sparingly. Drinking enough water is also essential to keeping hydrated, converting food into energy, carrying nutrients through the body, and removing waste.

WEIGHT MANAGMENT: To prevent gradual weight gain over time, make small decreases in food and beverage calories and increase physical activity. Balance calories between the amount you eat and the amount of energy you burn. For moderately active people between the ages of 31 and 50, recommended NET calories would be 2,000 per day for women and 2,400 to 2,600 for men.

*PHYSICAL ACTIVITY*: Engage in regular physical activity and reduce sedentary activities to promote psychological well-being and a healthy body weight. Thirty minutes of exercise is the minimum. Exercise for 60 minutes to maintain weight and prevent weight gain. If you've lost weight, exercise for 60 to 90 minutes daily to keep it off.

ADEQUATE NUTRIENTS WITHIN CALORIE NEEDS: Consume a variety of nutrient-dense foods and beverages within and among the basic food groups while choosing foods that limit the intake of saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, added sugars, salt and alcohol.

FOOD GROUPS TO ENCOURAGE: Eat 2 cups of fruit and 2 1/2 cups of vegetables per day in a 2,000-calorie diet, with higher or lower amounts depending on the calorie level; 3 or more ounce-equivalents of whole-grain products per day; three cups per day of fat-free or low-fat milk or equivalent milk products.

FATS: Limit intakes of fats and oils high in saturated and-or trans fatty acids, and choose products low in such fats and oils. Get no more than 10% of your calories from saturated fat and no more than 300 milligrams of cholesterol daily.

SODIUM: Consume less than 2,300 mg (approximately one teaspoon of salt) of sodium per day.

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES:Those who choose to drink alcoholic beverages should do so sensibly and in moderation; defined as the consumption of up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men.